Save Indians in Iraq

Parts of Iraq are a war zone. Militants of the organisation Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are advancing on Baquba and the capital, Baghdad, is not far from there. While the authenticity of news emanating cannot be confirmed, fears that about 40 Indians are either kidnapped or untraceable in a deteriorating security situation is a worrisome development that the country has to face up to now.

The government has moved quickly on Iraq in getting an experienced diplomat once posted there as an additional hand on the ground to render what support he can, not only with official contacts since the government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki is under severe pressure to contain the rebels. In such an explosive situation, India would have to use all possible sources to trace our citizens — mostly construction workers employed by Gulf companies or nurses and paramedical staff who have found jobs there with great difficulty.

As a nation, we owe it to them to do all that is possible to try and trace their whereabouts and help them get back. There is no guarantee much can be done by official India in Mosul and Tikrit, which are in the middle of the war zone in northern Iraq and from where grisly images of soldiers and/or fighters being executed by renegade elements have been circulating.

While the negative impact on crude oil prices is bound to cascade after the main refinery in Salaheddin province was hit by rebels Wednesday, of immediate concern is the safety at least 100 Indians stranded far from home.